Maxwell Richard Crosbie Ward, 6th Viscount Bangor (4 May 1868 – 17 November 1950), was an Irish peer and politician.

Early life and education

Ward was born to Henry Ward, 5th Viscount Bangor, and his first wife, scientific illustrator Mary Ward, who died in the world's first motoring accident. He was educated at

Harrow School Harrow School () is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English Independent school (United Kingdom), independent boarding school for boys) in Harrow on the Hill, Greater London, England. The school was founded in 1572 by John Lyon (sc ...

and the

Royal Military Academy, Woolwich The Royal Military Academy (RMA) at Woolwich, in south-east London, was a British Army military academy for the training of commissioned officers of the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. It later also trained officers of the Royal Corps of S ...

Military service

Ward was commissioned a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army unt ...

in the

Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

on 23 July 1887, and promoted to

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

on 23 July 1890. He was promoted to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

on 1 April 1898, appointed divisional adjutant in February 1900, and Instructor at the School of Gunnery on 10 October 1900. Promotion to

major Major ( commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicato ...

came in 1906. After his father's death in 1911, he succeeded to the title of Viscount Bangor. He retired from active duty in 1912 and commanded the Antrim Royal Garrison Reserve Artillery. He was recommissioned in 1914 after the start of the First World War. He was appointed an Officer of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

in the

1919 New Year Honours The 1919 New Year Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were published in ''The London Gazette'' and ''The Times'' in Jan ...

Political career

He was a representative peer in the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminst ...

from 1913 to 1950 and an Ulster Unionist member of the Senate of Northern Ireland from 1921 until his death in 1950. He was Deputy Leader of the Senate and Parliamentary Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister from 1929 to 1930 before serving as Speaker of the Senate from 1930 to 1950.Ark Elections, The Northern Ireland Senate, 1921–72
/ref>

Family

Ward married, in 1905, Agnes Elizabeth (''née'' Hamilton), with whom he had one son and three daughters. He was succeeded by his son Edward Ward, a journalist who made his name as a BBC foreign correspondent. He died at his home, Castle Ward, at the age of 82.

References

Maxwell Maxwell may refer to: People * Maxwell (surname), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name ** James Clerk Maxwell, mathematician and physicist * Justice Maxwell (disambiguation) * Maxwell baronets, in the Baronetage of ...

{{Parliament-of-Northern-Ireland-member-stub